We hope you’re all enjoying our book club read, I Am Malala, as much as we are! It’s so interesting, don’t you think? As promised, today we’ve put together a few discussion questions to get us chatting about the book up until Chapter 18. We’ve also gone ahead and shared answers from Team LC, and would love to read yours in the comments too. If some of you have already read to the end of the book, please don’t leave any spoilers in the comments! Anyway, let’s start our Q&A. Here we go…

Questions

1. In Chapter 3, Malala explains how her parents play such a giving and charitable role in their community in the Swat Valley. How do you think this shaped Malala’s character and influenced her own future?

2. In Chapter 5, after Malala does not win the class trophy at the end of the school year, her father tells her “It’s a good thing to come in second because you learn that if you can win, you can lose. And you should learn to be a good loser not just a good winner.” What do you think about this advice? How do you think it builds Malala’s character?

3. What are a few of your favorite Malala moments from the book so far?

4. Would you have been as brave as Malala at this point in the story? In what ways do you feel like you relate to Malala?

Our Answers

1. It’s clear from the beginning of the book that Malala has a strong family and a strong foundation. Life in the Swat Valley changes throughout the book, but the one thing that stays the same are the morals and values that are taught by Malala’s parents. By giving food to struggling families, housing a down-and-out family of seven, and performing many other good deeds, Malala’s parents give her important perspective, and a unique global outlook on life.

2. We think that having this experience is important for Malala’s character, because, while she is at the top of her class, she still has more to learn. It also shows that her father does not favor his own daughter (Malala) even though he is the principal of the school. Getting second place humbles Malala and shows her that you have to work hard in life to get what you want.

3. We really like the theme of the “magic pencil” throughout the first half of the book. It shows that Malala is still a young girl with an imagination… But it also symbolizes hope and her desire for change. We also love when Malala stands up at the peace rally to speak. Here’s our favorite excerpt from that part in the book:

“We are afraid of no one, and we will continue our education. This is our dream.” And I knew in that instant it wasn’t me, Malala, speaking; my voice was the voice of so many others who wanted to speak but couldn’t.

4. It’s hard to say if we could have been as brave as Malala—she’s truly inspiring! But just reading this story alone gives us courage and makes us what to create good change in the world. We think it goes without saying that it’s nearly impossible to put this story down.

Now it’s your turn…

What are your answers to the questions above?

Leave your responses below and read to the end of the book by November 11th, which is when we will announce the date of my live chat!